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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak |
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MONDAY | 8/18/205 |
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AUSTIN NEWSLETTER LAUNCHED |
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“Texas Democrats end walkout over redistricting as California prepares to retaliate,” AP's Bill Barrow and Fernanda Figueroa -- "Texas Democrats ended a two-week walkout Monday that stalled Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts as part of a national partisan brawl over President Donald Trump’s desire to reshape U.S. House maps to his advantage.
Their return to the Texas Capitol — which will now involve escorts by state police to make sure the lawmakers don’t bolt again — puts the Republican-run Legislature in position to satisfy Trump’s demands as California Democrats separately advance new congressional boundaries in retaliation. The tit-for-tat puts the nation’s two most populous states at the center of an expanding fight over control of Congress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The battle also has rallied Democrats nationally after infighting and frustrations among the party’s own voters since Republicans took control of the White House and Capitol Hill in January. |
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In Texas, dozens of state House Democrats left the state Aug. 3 to deny their Republican-majority colleagues the attendance necessary to vote on redrawn maps intended to send five more Texas Republicans to Washington. After spending nearly two weeks in Illinois and elsewhere, they declared victory when Republicans adjourned their first special session on Friday and Democrats around the country rallied in opposition to the Trump-led gerrymandering effort. They pointed specifically to California’s release of proposed maps intended to increase Democrats’ U.S. House advantage by five seats, effectively neutralizing any Republican gains in Texas.
Many of the absent Democrats left Chicago early Monday and landed hours later at a private airfield in Austin, where several boarded a large charter bus to the Capitol. Once inside, they were greeted by cheering supporters. And for the first time since Trump’s redistricting push accelerated into a national issue, the Texas House floor was near full capacity when lawmakers convened briefly Monday afternoon. |
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Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows did not mention redistricting on the floor Monday but promised swift action on the Legislature’s agenda.
“The majority has the right to prevail. The minority has the right to be heard,” the speaker said. “We are done waiting.”
Burrows had previously issued civil arrest warrants for the absent lawmakers under House rules, and his office said Monday that Texas Department of Public Safety officers will follow the previously departed lawmakers around the clock to ensure that they return again.
Cheering supporters greeted returning lawmakers inside the Capitol before the House convened for a brief session.
“We killed the corrupt special session, withstood unprecedented surveillance and intimidation, and rallied Democrats nationwide to join this existential fight for fair representation — reshaping the entire 2026 landscape,” Texas House Minority Leader Gene Wu said in a written statement.
Wu has promised Democrats would challenge the new designs in court.
The House did not take up any bills Monday and was not scheduled to return until Wednesday." AP
“Returning Texas House Democrats put on around-the-clock surveillance,” Houston Chronicle's Taylor Goldenstein, Bayliss Wagner and John C. Moritz -- "The Texas House is assigning state troopers to monitor Democratic lawmakers who returned to the Capitol on Monday, an extraordinary step as GOP leaders seek to prevent another disruption in their push to redraw the state's congressional maps.
From the dais, House Speaker Dustin Burrows on Monday said he would not allow the Democrats to leave the chamber unless they agreed to be released into the custody of a designated Department of Public Safety escort, who will “ensure your return Wednesday” when the body meets next.
He noted that civil arrest warrants were still in place for the handful of Democrats who did not return on Monday from their two-week walkout over the redistricting plan.
The escorts, whom a House official confirmed would be watching “around the clock,” represent a major escalation in that effort and test the limits of what can be done to enforce a House rule and civil warrant not directly linked to any state or federal law.
After the House adjourned Monday, dozens of Democrats lined up in a hallway behind the chamber to sign permission slips.
Members were each paired with plainclothes DPS agents. There was a levity to the scene as members and their escorts became acquainted, neither seeming totally clear on the details of the situation.
After a Hearst Newspapers reporter asked who his designated escort was, state Rep. John Bryant said, "I don't know."
"I am," said the man standing next to him.
Bryant asked the trooper if he was coming home to Dallas with him.
"They told me I have to stay glued to your hip," the trooper, who declined to provide his full name, said.
Republican leaders have been working to bring down the hammer on Democrats who fled the state earlier this month to deny the chamber a quorum.
In addition to new $500-per-day fines on members who joined the exodus, Burrows had already moved to cut members’ office budgets and force members to pick up paychecks in person, rather than through electronic payment. Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suits trying to force out-of-state authorities to coordinate with Texas to bring them home (thus far unsuccessful), and Gov. Greg Abbott has filed suit to have House Democratic Caucus Chairman Gene Wu, of Houston, removed from office." Hou Chron ($) |
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“Fifth Circuit halts West Texas A&M drag show ban as free speech lawsuit continues” Texas Tribune
Editorial: “Records help drive out doubt, suspicion” vUvalde Leader News |
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“San Antonio Rep. Ray Lopez won't seek reelection to Texas Legislature” SAEN ($) |
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Editorial: “Texas needs a better, more responsive A-F rating system for schools and districts” SAEN ($)
“Judge to rule before Sept. 1 on Texas’ Ten Commandments requirement in public schools” Texas Tribune |
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“Dallas’ new inspector general is not an attorney, violating voter-approved requirement” DMN ($)
“Whitmire, City Council halts payment to Nerie Construction after bribery plea in water repair scheme” Hou Chron ($)
“Texas felon mistakenly released from Harris County Jail after paperwork error, sheriff’s office says” Hou Chron ($) |
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“‘The bull market is coming home’: Texas Stock Exchange launches ad campaign at DFW Airport” DMN ($) |
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> TX TRIB: "Texas Senate panel again advances redrawn congressional map" TX TRIB |
> TX TRIB: "From a cell phone ban to Ten Commandments posters, new state laws bring big changes to Texas schools" TX TRIB |
> TX TRIB: "Vaccine exemption requests in Texas spike in July, as some experts fear more families will opt out" TX TRIB |
> HOU CHRON: "Falkenberg: Schwarzenegger told me we're getting the redistricting war all wrong" HOU CHRON |
> DMN: "Texas Senate panel advances congressional map that shifts five seats to GOP’s favor" DMN |
> KXAN: "Texas senators advance redistricting plan in Sunday hearing" KXAN |
> FWST: "Powerball player misses $579 million jackpot in Texas — but still wins big" FWST |
> FWST: "Girlfriend finds man dead by tracking phone after he vanishes on call, TX cops say" FWST |
> HOU CHRON: "Flash flood sweeps campsite in north China, leaving 10 dead and 2 missing" HOU CHRON |
> HOU CHRON: "Man accused of killing parents with baseball bat in east Harris County" HOU CHRON |
> FWST: "Fort Worth police are looking for missing 60-year-old woman, last seen Saturday" FWST |
> DMN: "North Texas swelters under triple-digit heat advisory, storms forecast this week" DMN |
> FWST: "Mom’s story about 7-month-old being kidnapped has ‘inconsistencies,’ CA cops say" FWST |
> FWST: "Twelve kayakers, including 6 children, rescued off coast of Washington state" FWST |
> KXAN: "‘We all are in school more when things are circulating less’ — doctors share tips to keep kids healthy" KXAN |
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Last night's Texas sports scores:
> MLB: Texas at Toronto
> MLB: Baltimore at Houston
> WNBA: Dallas at Las Vegas (ABC)
> MLS: Houston at Vancouver (Apple TV)
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 5:40pm: MLB: Houston at Detroit
> 6:40pm: MLB: Texas at Kansas City
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 5:40pm: MLB: Houston at Detroit
> 6:40pm: MLB: Texas at Kansas City
HOUSTON ASTROS: "Jordan Westburg’s career-best 5 RBIs power Orioles to 12-0 rout of Astros" AP
HOUSTON ASTROS: "Houston Astros bring back reliever Tayler Scott, designate Jordan Weems for assignment" Hou Chron ($)
HOUSTON ASTROS: "Houston Astros left-hander Brandon Walter shut down after elbow issue recurs" Hou Chron ($)
HOUSTON ASTROS: "Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez to begin minor-league rehab assignment in Corpus Christi" Hou Chron ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "Semien homers in return, Eovaldi wins 7th straight decision as Rangers beat Blue Jays 10-4" AP
TEXAS RANGERS: "If the Texas Rangers are to claw back into contention, they’ll have to look to their stars" DMN ($)
DALLAS COWBOYS: "Netflix cameras gone, Jerry Jones pulls back Cowboys’ curtain in exclusive interview" DMN ($)
DALLAS COWBOYS: "Dallas Cowboys have more questions than answers with one preseason game left" DMN ($)
TEXAS FOOTBALL: "Julian Sayin named Ohio State’s starting quarterback for season opener against Texas" AP
TEXAS FOOTBALL: "How Texas and Steve Sarkisian are getting ready for Ohio State's new QB and coordinators" Hou Chron ($)
TEXAS FOOTBALL: "No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Penn St each place 3 players on Associated Press preseason All-America first team" AP
TEXAS ATHLETICS: "Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte to receive lengthy extension" AAS ($)
TEXAS TECH FOOTBALL: "Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire feels the pressure after cash-driven roster overhaul" AP
TCU FOOTBALL: "TCU sets sights on Big 12 title with Hoover leading the charge" AP
BAYLOR FOOTBALL: "Robertson and Baylor hope to build off 2024 finish that removed dismal feel around Aranda’s team" AP
HOUSTON FOOTBALL: "Houston coach Willie Fritz revamps offense with new coordinator and QB" AP
ISAIAH BOND: "Browns sign rookie wide receiver Isaiah Bond after sexual assault case is dropped" AP
AUSTIN FC / DALLAS FC: "Owen Wolff’s second-half goal helps Austin up unbeaten streak to six in 1-1 draw with Dallas" AP
HOUSTON DYNAMO: "José Artur scores in stoppage time to rally Dynamo to 1-1 draw with Whitecaps" AP
HOUSTON DASH: "Alozie scores in stoppage time to give Dash 2-1 win against Gotham FC" AP
DALLAS WINGS: "A’ja Wilson scores 34 and Aces hit 18 3-pointers in a 106-87 win over the Wings 106-87" AP |
